Watch Me - Page 116

It sounds like rain in the background until I focus on what the camera is aimed at. It’s the linoleum in my bathroom at my apartment. My hand covers my mouth again as I realize that’s not rain.

A moan fills the audio. My face burns with embarrassment because every one of these guys can recognize that moan. Coop’s arms tighten around me. It’s not like they all haven’t seen and heard me masturbate, but this wasn’t for show.

The angle changes, and suddenly, the camera is looking into the glass shower. I’m naked, pressed against the wall. One hand teases my nipple while the other is buried between my legs. I cry out softly as I come.

The camera swings to the side and suddenly we are back to the view from the ceiling or the corner, I can’t tell for sure. But I step out and put a towel around myself as I dry my hair. It keeps watching me as I dry off and put on my underwear, then it stops.

Unknown:

I’m going to enjoy watching the live show, little one.

I don’t even realize I’m trembling until I’m curled up in Coop’s arms. Seth strokes my back while Noah massages my hand.

“I’m going to kill him.” Blake shuts off the phone and sticks it in his pocket.

“We don’t know it’s a him,” Seth points out.

“Someone was in that bathroom with her.”

It’s too much. My insides churn violently.

I jolt out of their embrace and into the kitchen. My stomach spills out of me like those images, vile, burning, disgusting. A hand grabs my hair away from my face. Another hand strokes down my back. Someone runs the sink, so the filth goes down the drain, but that violation sticks to my skin.

In my bathroom. A camera in my bathroom for who knows how long.

My stomach heaves a few more times before it gives up. I’m pulled up against a hard chest, and a gentle hand wipes my mouth with a washcloth. I meet Seth’s eyes. His lips are pressed together.

“Here.”

I turn to Noah, take the glass of water, and sip it slowly. Watching me closely, Coop leans against the counter, meaning the arms around me are Blake’s.

“You should stay here today.” Seth’s tone is commanding.

“I can’t sit here and do nothing all day.” My arms wrap around my middle over Blake’s.

I’d rot if left alone with my thoughts. The intrusion into my life. For how long? Months, maybe years. Had it been Valerie taking the video? Did she know about the camera? Or was her privacy violated too?

“I’ve got some work I can do down here for a while,” Noah offers. “I can bring down my spare laptop for Madison to work on.”

“All of us have some work that can be done down here.” Coop meets Seth’s gaze but holds firm. “We can rotate who stays with Madison.”

“I can work at my desk.” No one listens to me, though.

“Yeah, I have some projects that have been put off.” Blake rubs the back of his neck.

“Guys, seriously. I’m fine.” I straighten and glance at my scarf. I don’t want it around my neck. It feels like his hands at first, before he choked me.

Four sets of eyes land on me, and I squirm a little at the attention.

“I won’t fall apart.” I take a breath. “Again. I can be a professional. Give me, like, thirty minutes to clean up, and I can work.”

I hold my breath as I give them all a look that says I’m fine.

“I’ll stay with her until she comes upstairs.” Noah steps beside me, and his hand goes to the small of my back. “We’ll be there soon.”

* * *

Seth